[The effect of sulpiride on intensity of gastroesophageal reflux]

Drugs inhibiting gastric acid secretion are most commonly used in a long-term treatment of GERD. In a number of patients their therapeutic effects are not satisfactory enough. For that reason other medicines are added as a concomitant therapy, e.g., prokinetics. Adverse drug reactions of widely available prokinetics limit their application and inspire us to search for different pharmacological compounds

To evaluate if sulpiride can prevent episodes of gastroesophageal refluxes.

The study comprised 25 men, aged 26-58 years, suffering from GERD, with erosive oesophagitis of A and B grades according to Los Angeles classification. In each subject 24-hour oesophageal pH-metry (Digitrapper Marc III, Synectics) was performed three times: prior to sulpiride administration, after the first two doses of 50 mg and after 6 weeks of treatment in the daily dose of 2 x 50 mg. On the day of the measurements patients remained on a standard liquid diet (Nutridrink 3 x 400 ml).

The initial reflux index prior to the drug administration was 18.8 +/- 10.7; after the first two doses it was 13.6 +/- 9.9 (p = 0.020), whereas after 6 weeks of therapy it was 16.3 +/- 10.1 (p = 0.034). The De Meester scores were: 74.0 +/- 52.3; 53, 4 +/- 41.9 (p = 0.002) and 56, 6 +/- 38.7 (p = 0.014) respectively.

Sulpiride reduces intensity of gastroesophageal refux. Sulpiride can be considered in the combined treatment of GERD.